Methods: :
B6 mice received daily i.p. injections of VIP from -1 through7 days p.i. Control mice were similarly injected with PBS. Real-timeRT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to assessthe effects of VIP treatment on ECM reconstitution. In vitrostimulation assays were performed using B6-derived fibroblaststo test the effects of VIP treatment using the aforementionedtechniques.

Conclusions: :
VIP treatment down-regulates the expression of molecules associatedwith the degradation of the matrix, while up-regulating theproduction of those molecules known to enhance ECM reconstitutionand function. In addition, VIP stimulates fibroblasts to expressmolecules associated with healing. The data from this studysuggest that VIP not only in regulates disease pathogenesis,but also functions to restore integrity of the corneal stroma.